Space filling apparatus for footwear

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a sock for thickening and enhancing the shape and curvature of a wearer&#39;s leg, which includes a sock with an open top end which contains and adjustable mechanism, comfortable padding throughout the length of the sock at varying thicknesses, and a closed lower end.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of socks and hosiery. Specifically the invention relates to the enhancement of the curvature of a wearer's leg and providing relief from foot ailments.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The prior art of socks and hosiery are well known. The objectives of such prior art include objectives such as shape enhancement and temperature control.

Prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,778, hereinafter referred to as “Johnson”, which describes hosiery that includes a plastic insert used to enhance the shape of the wearer's leg to fill any space between the wearer's leg and the footwear. However, the Johnson patent does not teach the gradual increase of the hosiery from the wearer's ankle to the opening. The Johnson patent also does not teach having cushioned foot padding on the closed end of the sock.

Prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. D598642 hereinafter referred to as “Plumert”, which describes “boot cuffs,” developed by the company Original Boot Cuffs. The patent shows an ornamental design for a boot accessory which aids in filling any space between the wearer's leg and footwear, through the use of other decorative material, such as faux leather and fur. The “Cuff” operates by the wearer first pulling the “Cuff” up around the wearer's calf, then the wearer putting on the wearer's boot, and finally the wearer folding the “Cuff” over the top of the boot to create personalized look. However, Plumert does not teach the use of the “Cuff” for shape enhancement of a wearer's leg.

Prior art also include items known as “boot buffers”, developed by the company Boot Buffers. The “Buffer” is a faux sock that uses a decorative material to fill any space between the wearer's leg and footwear. The “Buffer” also provides warmth to the wearer's leg through the use of cable knit material. The item has a wider cuff edge that can fold over the outside of the wearer's footwear while the rib's of the item maintains contact with the leg of the wearer the boot shaft. However, “boot buffers” teach how to gradually increase the material throughout the length of the wearer's leg.

Although the aforementioned prior art may accomplish certain objectives, the prior art fails to create comfortable shape enhancement socks and hosiery that provides enhanced temperature control to the wearer's leg. Prior art also fails to teach cushioning devices on a socks or hosiery that provides the wearer relief from foot discomfort. The present inventive device includes a sock with an open top end which contains an adjustable mechanism, padding throughout the length of the sock at varying thicknesses, and a closed lower end.

The present inventive device substantially departs from the aforementioned prior art, and as such, provides an inventive device which allows the wearer to achieve enhanced leg shaping, improved temperature control, and superior comfort over prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

To resolve the problems mentioned above, an objective of the present invention is to provide an inventive device which allows the wearer to achieve enhanced leg shaping. Shape enhancers fill unsightly gaps between a wearer's leg and footwear to keep a boot or other footwear from slouching around the wearer's ankle or calf. Shape enhancers also allow a wearer to accomplish fashion trends by wearing tall boots that fit snugly around the wearer's legs and calves. Because there still remains a need for a new apparatus which will address this issue, online forums exists that discuss the need for leg enhancing socks to solve the problems not addressed by prior art.

It is another goal of the present invention to provide improved temperature control, as with leg warmers. Leg warmers are designed to add an extra layer of warmth and insulation to keep leg muscles and ligaments warm and to prevent cramping, soft tissue injuries, or other muscle injuries that occur when muscles are cold. Calves fatigue quickly when using repeated motions and ankle muscles ligaments are especially vulnerable to injury when cold. The enhanced shaping section of the current invention is a thickened material which allows a wearer to maintain leg warmth, to promote the same benefits as leg warmers, which is not provided by traditional socks and hosiery. The use of wicking material also allows moisture to be drawn away from the wearer's body, which keeps the wearer's skin dry and comfortable. Wicked material is also used to avoid chafing and drastic fluctuations in body temperature. Additionally, one embodiment of the current invention, as described below, calls for individual cavities for receiving each toe, which creates an extra layer of material between toes that allows condensation to be wicked away into the sock material.

A further objective of the present invention is to offer relief from common foot ailments. The invention calls for cushioning devices which provide relief for foot conditions including, but not limited to, metatarsalgia, plantar fascia, hallux valgus (bunions), calvi (corns), calluses, and hammer (or mallet) toes. Metatarsalgia is a condition which causes pain in the ball of a person's foot due to strain of the metatarsophalangeal joints, which are the joints where the toes flex and push off the ground, and can be caused by abnormal foot structure, which leads to excess ground pressure at the ball of the foot. Plantar Fasciitis, also known as heel spur syndrome, is a condition which causes pain on the bottom of the heel when bearing weight due to inflammation, and is caused by foot dysfunction which results in excess strain on the plantar fascia. Bunions presents as a large bump on the side or top of the big toe joint and is usually caused by an abnormality of foot function. Corns are small areas of deeply thickened skin that occur over a bony structure, such as a toe joint and are the result of friction against these areas. Calluses are larger areas of thickened skin and are caused by excess friction and are usually found on the soles or sides of the feet. Hammertoes are a deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint, and the condition commonly results from wearing poorly fitting shoes, excessive wearing of high heels, or other situations which require the toes to be bent for long periods of time causing a shortening of the muscle. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a new type of sock with which to enhance the shape of the wearer's leg while providing comfort against the aforementioned conditions.

Finally, it is the intent of the present invention to help prevent the occurrence of and guard against further progression of venous disorders such as edema, thrombophlebitis (phlebitis), and thrombosis. Edema is the swelling from accumulation of excess fluid under the skin in the spaces within body tissues. Phlebitis is the inflammatory swelling of a vein caused by a blood clot. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. The aforementioned conditions can lead the same blood being circulated. Compression socks are designed to aid in the circulation of the blood within the legs by allowing nutrients and oxygenated blood into the legs and feet, which relieve pain and regenerate damaged tissues. In another embodiment of the current invention, compression material may be used to exert pressure to the legs causing a decrease in venous pressure, which prevents venous stasis and relieves aching legs.

The prior art falls short of the present invention which allows for enhanced leg shaping, improved temperature control, pain relief from foot ailments, and compression material to relieve aches associated with vein disorders.

Still other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perceptive view of the sock including one form of adjustable mechanism at the open end of the sock, which allows for the folding of any extra material. Additionally, the figure contains compartmentalized toe sections and cushions on the toe and heal receiving sections.

FIG. 2 is a perceptive view of the enhancement shaping section without a closed end.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sock including another form of adjustable mechanism at the open end of the sock.

FIG. 4 illustrates several alternate forms of adjustable mechanisms, where the mechanisms are made of different materials including buckles (FIG. 4A), elastic (FIG. 4B), and hook and loop fasteners (FIG. 4C).

FIG. 5 is a side view of the sock which includes cushions on the toe and heal receiving sections.

FIG. 6 is a perceptive view of the sock containing compartmentalized toe sections as well as cushions on the toe and heal receiving sections.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the sock containing compartmentalized toe sections and cushions on the toe and heal receiving sections. Additionally, the figure illustrates a cushion on the side of the large toe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.

As seen in FIG. 1, the sock has an open end 10 for receiving the wearer's foot, a hollow enhancement shaping section 20, and closed end 30. The open end 10 receives the wearer's foot such that the foot fits through the open end 10, continues through the enhancement shaping section 20, and stops at the end of the closed end 30. The enhancement shaping section 20 begins at or near the wearer's ankle and extends upward towards the open end 10. The closed end 30 contains a portion for receiving the wearer's toes 40 and a portion for receiving the wearer's heel 50 and is so dimensioned as to accommodate the wearer's entire foot.

In one embodiment, the sock contains an enhancement shaping section 20 as seen in FIG. 2. The enhancement shaping section 20 allows the wearer to fill a gap that may exist between the wearer's leg and the footwear. The enhancement shaping section 20 material may gradually increases in thickness 60 from at or near the wearer's ankle towards the open end 10 of the sock. The length of the enhancement shaping section 20 may be so dimensioned as to accommodate a variety of leg and calf sizes. Additionally, the length of the enhancement shaping section 20 may be such that the wearer may fold down any extra material 70 to fill any void between the wearer's leg and footwear as show in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4B. The enhancement shaping section 20 material may be any of the following or a combination thereof, including, but not limited to acrylic, nylon, rayon, polyester, spandex, elastic, or other similar materials which achieve the same thickening purpose. The enhancement shaping section 20 may contain material with a wicking effect to allow air into the material and simultaneously draw moisture away from the body of the wearer, which allows the wearer to maintain a constant leg temperature. The enhancement shaping section 20 may also be tightly woven compression material to help prevent and manage aching legs. The material of the enhancement shaping section 20 need not be the same material as the closed end 30 of the sock.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the closed end 30 of the sock that receives the wearer's toes 40 and the wearer's heel 50 may have cushion(s) 80. The cushion(s) 80 provides relief from pain associated with improper fitting shoes, uncomfortable shoes that rub against the wearer's feet, and/or genetic conditions which cause the wearer's foot curve improperly. Pain relief is achieved through the cushion(s) 80 mitigating the tension and friction between the wearer's foot and footwear. Cushion(s) 80 may be placed under the toe receiving portion 40 and/or on the side of the large toe for pain relief. Additionally, this embodiment may have cushion(s) 80 on the portion of the sock that receives the wearer's heel 50. The cushion 80 material may be foam, gel, a combination of the two, or any other material which provides pain relief by mitigating tension and/or friction. The cushion(s) 80 may also be filled with medication to promote the treatment of foot conditions such as calvi (corns) or calluses.

In a further embodiment of the sock, the closed end 30 that receives the wearer's toes 40 may have toe compartments 90 for each toe as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Compartmentalized socks provide a layer of fabric between each toe that reduces the likelihood of blisters, hang nails, and other foot injuries caused by the friction on the wearer's toes and footwear. This embodiment may have as many toe compartments 90 as the wearer has toes. Additionally, the material of the toe compartments 90 may include materials similar to those referenced in the enhancement shaping section 20 embodiment.

In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the open end 10 contains an adjustable mechanism 100. The adjustable mechanism 100 includes, but is not limited to buckles (FIG. 4A), elastic and spandex (FIG. 4B), hook and loop fasteners (FIG. 4C), straps, or the like. The adjustable mechanism 100 allows each wearer to customize the fit of the open end 10 specifically to accommodate the wearer's leg-size.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

1. A sock comprising: an open end for receiving the wearer's foot, and an enhancement shaping section.
 2. The open end of claim 1 wherein a fastener adjusts the circumference of the open end to varying widths.
 3. The enhancement shaping section of claim 1 wherein the section begins at or near the wearer's ankle and gradually enlarges towards the open end.
 4. The sock of claim 1 wherein the sock comprises compression material.
 5. The sock of claim 1, wherein the open end contains an adjustable mechanism.
 6. A sock comprising: an open end for receiving the wearer's foot, a closed end for containing the wearer's foot, and an enhancement shaping section.
 7. The sock of claim 6 wherein the toe receiving section of the closed end contains individual compartments spaced to receive each toe.
 8. The closed end of claim 6 wherein the toe receiving section contains cushioned pad(s).
 9. A method of putting on the sock comprising the steps of inserting the wearer's foot through the open end of the sock and sliding the foot down until it reaches the closed end of the sock, such that the enhancement shaping section is around the wearer's leg and calf.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising an adjustment mechanism to secure the sock.
 11. The method of claim 9 comprising the insertion of each toe into an individual compartment of the closed end. 